Constant

Chapter 7

(LYDIA)

I could see my father sitting out front of our house in his old rocking chair. He didn't alter his rocking pace as he watched me ride into the yard. His expression didn't change as he looked at my appearance. He didn't ask questions about the unfamiliar horse that I was riding. 

"Where have you been?" He asked. 

I didn't reply to him for a few seconds as I tried to think of what to say to him. I knew that it wouldn't matter what was said. I could have said that I ran away or that I secretly married. His reaction would be the same. "I was abducted by a group of men when I went to get water at the stream." 

"You neglected to do your chores," He said as he rocked back and forth in his chair.

I shook my head slowly and dropped down off of the horse. I pulled the animal behind me and led it to the barn. We had a few empty stalls where it could be kept. My father would be more concerned with the lost bucket that I had dropped when the men had grabbed me from behind. I could remember the feel of the thick arms that wrapped around me. I shivered at the thought and led the horse towards the barn. 

"Don't you walk away from me while I am talking to you!" My father growled behind me. I heard his footsteps approach and I felt his hand as he roughly grabbed my arm forcing me to spin around and face him. He leaned down to get into my face. When he was just inches from me he stopped as he glared into my eyes. I hated that I had his eyes. I wanted nothing to do with him yet I inherited one of his most prominent features. His blue eyes glared into mine like a mirror image. I felt like I was looking into my own soul and all that I could see was darkness. I tried to pull my arm away from his grasp which made him tighten his hand. I could feel my hand and lower arm start to tingle from the lack of blood flow. 

I stood there and looked straight into my father eyes as he glared at me. For the first time he seemed to see the dirt smudges and bruises on my face. He noticed the tangled state of my hair and my shredded dress. He released my arm one finger at a time and I pulled it close to my body for protection. 

"Get on with your chores," He growled then stomped back across the yard and plopped down in his chair. The creak of the wood let me know that he was rocking back and forth again. I knew that he wouldn't care that I had gone missing but that didn't make it hurt any less. I walked into the dark barn and pulled the door shut behind me. Once inside, I went to open the windows to allow the slight breeze to come through with the sunlight.  

The day at the stream when the men had gagged me had been just a few days ago. I remembered it perfectly. A gag had been tied around my mouth to keep me quiet. I punched and kicked until a silver knife appeared in front of my face. When I stopped struggling the man threw me over his shoulder and carried me through the trees.I remembered when he had dropped me to my feet in front of Kyle. Kyle untied the gag and I screamed loudly earning a slap across the face that was so hard my head snapped back and I saw spots. The slap was similar to ones that I had received back at home. 

I looked down at my wrists which were still raw from the ropes that had been tied around them. I rubbed the sore skin as I thought about being led through miles of the forest with a group of men who were similar to my father. They had been violent and mean. Kyle's influence had protected me from the men with the worst of intentions but that didn't mean that I had enjoyed my journey. 

I glanced around at the familiar walls around me to remind myself that I was home and for the moment I was fairly safe. I felt a trickle of a tear on my face and I reached up to wipe it off with the back of my hand. I looked at the tear on my hand and tried to remember the last time that I had cried. Crying made my father angrier and so I learned not to cry. Thinking of what had happened shouldn't drive me to such a weak emotion. I led the horse into a stall and took the saddle off. I found a brush and started to work.